Multilingual scholar lectured worldwide, was expert on armed conflict law

There are a lot of ways to describe longtime University of San Diego law professor Joseph Darby. Navy leader. Legal scholar. Devoted Catholic. But perhaps none is more accurate than this: Renaissance man.

“He was probably the most intelligent person I’ve met in my lifetime,” said former FBI agent and longtime friend Larry Campbell.

“He broke the mold,” said his wife, Ursula. “He was unusual in many, many ways.”

Mr. Darby died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, on June 13 at his home in La Jolla. He was 83.

Mr. Darby’s contributions were many and covered a variety of areas. Before joining the faculty at USD Law School in 1965, he taught German and Russian at the University of Denver and studied law as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Cologne in Germany. While in Cologne, he was asked to translate the German Penal Code into English.

At USD, Mr. Darby taught a number of subjects, mostly in the area of international comparative law. He also lectured at universities worldwide in English, French, German and Russian, and could carry conversations in Italian, Polish and Arabic.

In 1996, Mr. Darby earned a Fulbright grant to teach American law in Russian to law students, prosecutors, attorneys and judges in Moscow and several provincial cities in the Russian Federation. Shortly after Mr. Darby’s retirement last year, the USD Law School established the Darby Endowed Scholarship Fund in recognition of Mr. Darby’s “outstanding scholarship and inspirational impact on law students.” The annual recipient is to be known as the Darby Scholar.

Correction

An earlier version of this story contained incorrect information. Mr. Darby began his teaching career in 1965. Rear Admiral Lee Levenson's name was also misspelled.

“He was among the top instructors at the University of San Diego’s law school,” said retired Rear Adm. Lee Levenson, who knew Mr. Darby for 40 years and lived next door to his longtime friend.

Mr. Darby was born on July 25, 1930, in Jersey City, N.J. He earned his bachelor or arts degree in Russian from Georgetown University and his law degree from Fordham Law School. He also earned a master’s degree and Ph.D. from Columbia University and a Doktor Juris degree from the University of Cologne.

He served for three years on active duty in the Navy as a cryptologic officer in Turkey, Germany and on the flagship for the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean. He also served in various roles as a reserve officer, including command of two Navy Reserve units and for the Secretary of the Navy on the United Nations Convention of the Law and the Sea. Mr. Darby was considered an expert on the Law of Armed Conflict.

He retired from military service in 1990.

“His knowledge of the law of the sea was of great help to this nation,” Levenson said.

Mr. Darby is survived by his wife, Ursula, whom he met in Germany 50 years ago; his children: Christiane Darby of San Diego; Gabriella Hennington of Spokane, Wash.; Thomas Darby of Annapolis, Md.; and Heidi Zadeyan of La Jolla; and 11 grandchildren.

Services have been held. Inurnment will be at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery.

Donations may be made in Mr. Darby’s name to the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association, Greater San Diego Chapter; 7920 Silverton Ave., Suite E, San Diego, 92126, or by visiting alsasd.org.